What 1,191 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT FELT SLEEPY, NAUSEOUS, WEAK, DIZZY, AND CONFUSED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO REST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER, AND TO STAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE CONTACT CALLED FOOTHILLS AUTOMALL AT (509) 324-8200 (LOCATED AT 202 E NORTH FOOTHILLS DR, SPOKANE, WA 99207) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT A RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO GUS JOHNSON FORD AT (509) 924-1000 (LOCATED AT 8300 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99212) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11065629

WHILE MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN ON A CITY STREET, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING ME TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE TURN. LUCKILY, THERE WAS A PARKING LOT STRAIGHT AHEAD SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER WITH DIFFICULTY INTO THAT LOT. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WAITED 30 SECONDS OR SO, AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE. I HAD NO OTHER ISSUES AND REACHED MY DESTINATION SAFELY.

NHTSA ODI 11065240

POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ACCIDENT. I WAS QUEENS BOULEVARD BETWEEN 52ND AND 51ST STREET WHEN IT OCCURRED. MY VIDEO IS TOO LARGE TO DOWNLOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11056552

ALWAYS GOT TIRED WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE. I NEVER FELT COMPLETELY ALERT WHEN I DROVE IT. I WOULDN'T TAKE MY GRANDCHILD ANYWHERE WITH ME IN THAT VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE OR SAFE DRIVING IN IT WITH OTHERS. ONE DAY I GOT REALLY LIGHT HEADED AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW IS I WRECKED THE VEHICLE INTO THE SIDE OF AN OVER PASS WALL AT 35 MPH. I NO LONGER HAVE THE VEHICLE, BUT I NEVER KNEW WHY IT HAPPENED. DID THE VEHICLE HAVE A CABIN MONOXIDE LEAK? WHEN I HAD THE ACCIDENT I WAS SO OUT OF IT THAT I THOUGHT A CAR WAS BESIDE ME OR SOMETHING. ALL I KNOW IS I NEVER FELT SAFE DRIVING IT WITH THE WAY IT MADE ME FEEL...UPDATED 12/13/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11051494

MY CAR HAS ABOUT 95K MILES. CURRENTLY IT IS IN THE SHOP GETTING 2 THINGS DONE. A PART IS ORDERED FOR AIR BAG. I'VE HAD SEVERAL AIRBAG ISSUES NEEDED SERVICE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE POWER STEERING UNIT. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM DIBLASIO IN 2012 W/ ABOUT 7K MILES ON IT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD. SEPT 2016 THE ORIGINAL POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. 14 MONTHS LATER THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW FAILED AND IS BEING REPLACED! THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK GOD!!!!! THE POWER ASSIST DID NOT FAIL OR SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT TIME THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. I NO LONGER TRUST THIS CAR. THE PS UNIT IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ONCE, YET TWICE. WITH THE SECOND TIME TAKING ONLY 14 MONTHS TO FAIL. I CALL FORD CORPORATE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THAT I NO LONGER TRUST THE CAR. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE ARTICLES ABOUT A PS UNIT RECALL IN THE 2014S. I DON'T RECALL EVER RECEIVING A NOTICE ABOUT MY VEHICLE AND ONLY BROUGHT IT IN WHEN IT STARTED ACTING ODD IN 2016. FORD ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO. AT THIS POINT I SAID I NO LONGER WANT THE CAR AND DO NOT WANT TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE WITH WHAT I KNOW AND FEAR. I THOUGHT FORD SHOULD BUY IT BACK FROM ME AT A REASONABLE PRICE AND I WILL GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR SHOW AND THE PERSON CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WERE SORRY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THAT ANY TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM I SHOULD BRING IT TO THE DEALER. I AM DISGUSTED WITH FORD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. I NEED HELP PLEASE. I FEAR ANYONE DRIVING THIS CAR ONCE I GET IT BACK TOMORROW.

NHTSA ODI 11046588

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BLOWING COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION FORD NORTH CANTON (5900 WHIPPLE AVE NW, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 238-3206) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,416. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP HAS LIST OF MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND TV NEW STORY WITH SAME PROBLEM AND CONSUMER REPORT HAS RECORD OF POOR PARTS UPDATED 8/20/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11046327

BOUGHT USED-AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME-- KIRK FORD FIXED IT AT DEALER COST FROM BARKSDALE CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED.. AIR BAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND WHEN I TALKED TO THEM THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE CAUSING IT. . HUSBAND FIGHTIN G CANCER AND I COULD NO GET THR RECALL ON DOOR HANDLE FIXED. HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND I DONT HAVE FUNDS TO GET AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED..I DONT KNOW THE BRAND OF AIR BAG.SO I DONT KNOW IF IT IS TAKATA

NHTSA ODI 11042828

WHILE DRIVING THE SUV, AN ORANGE WRENCH ERROR CAME ON THE DASH BOARD. THEN THE SUV HAD NO ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE SUV AND TURN IT BACK ON. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE SUV HAD ACCELERATION, BUT THIS ERROR AND NO ACCELERATION KEEPS HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ISSUE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL LISTED FOR THIS ISSUE FOR MY TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11040016

CAR HAS NAUSEATING SMELL WHEN AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER IS ON. AIR CONDITIONER OVERHAULED AT MY EXPENSE JULY 26, 2017. SMELL REMAINS, ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY BETTER AT TIMES. SMELL IS A CROSS BETWEEN BURNED ROPE/URINE-TYPE SMELL. IF DRIVING ALL DAY, OR LONG DISTANCES, I GET A HEADACHE. PLEASE RESPOND

NHTSA ODI 11035331

SINCE I PURCHASED BY 2011, NEW IN 2011, I HAVE NOTED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR UPON EXCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SMELL WILL LINGER AND REQUIRES NECESSITY TO CRACK MY WINDOWS TO CLEAR. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS WITH MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER TWICE, BUT THEY HAVE HAD NO ANSWERS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, UPON RE-ENTERING THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING, I HAVE NOTED A PUNGENT SMELL SIMILAR TO SCORCHED HAIR INTERMITTENTLY. CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES AND POTENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

NHTSA ODI 11034485

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PERRY FORD OF POWAY (12740 POWAY RD, POWAY, CA 92064) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND ALSO THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11034584

MY 2011 EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED THE STEERING PROBLEM IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I'M MAKING A TURN ON THE STREET OR TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES REALLY HARD TO MOVE AROUND. MOST OF THE TIME I'M DRIVING UNDER 30MPH BUT IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS SPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AND YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR OWN VEHICLE IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR . I HAVE CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE STEERING SYSTEM , BUT THERE'S RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11034737

EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE CABIN WHILE IN MOTION. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015. I COMPLAINED TO FORD IN DECEMBER 2016 AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE HOSES REROUTED SO THAT THE EXHAUST FUMES DON'T COME INTO THE CABIN. I CALLED FORD AGAIN TODAY AND ONCE AGAIN THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS CRACKED OR OPENED DUE TO MY CONCERN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BY MYSELF OR WITH MY CHILDREN AS PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI 11034055

2011 FORD EXPLORER EXHAUST LEAK EVERYTIME I GO 60 OR 70 MILE PERHOUR EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11034166

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING SOME EXPLORERS 2011-12 WERE RECALLED. MINE WAS NOT, HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE STEERING GEAR AND THE SAFETY ISSUE OF CONCERN. IN RETROSPECT WHY WAS MINE NOT RECALLED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR PARTS. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $2000.

NHTSA ODI 11033208

WARNING ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST CAME ON IN DASH AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER

NHTSA ODI 11032626

WHEN I WAS DRIVING I CAME TO A STOP SIGN. I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THAT'S WHEN THE SUV SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO CONTROL SIMULTANEOUSLY. I STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND RE-STARTED THE SUV AGAIN. NONE OF MY WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD ARE DISPLAYED. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MY SPOUSE AND I ON AT LEAST 5 OTHER OCCASIONS. I AM VERY ALARMED THAT IF WE'RE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THIS OCCURS AGAIN, WHICH IT WILL, IT MAY CAUSE A COLLISION INJURING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS DILEMMA ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS ALOT OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I ASK THAT YOU PUT PRESSURE ON FORD TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA ODI 11032322

APIM NOT WORKING IN TOO MANY CARS I SEEN INTERNET

NHTSA ODI 11032177

2011 FORD EXPLORER THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 03/2011 AND THAT HAS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON AND OFF AT THE VERY FIRST MONTH OF THE CAR PURCHASE IT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY CHECKED AND FIXED FOR FREE WITHIN THE TIME WARRANTY. THEN I HAVE TO COME AND PAY ALMOST EVERY YEAR TO FIX THE AIRBAG LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11032186

DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR FOR AIRBAGS. I DON'T RECALL WHEN/CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT FIRST CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI 11024152

MY VEHICLE HAS STRONG EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN IT AS I DRIVE WHICH MAKES ME LET DOWN WINDOWS TO RECEIVE FRESH AIR.I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT BUT THEY HAD POLICE EXPLORERS THERE FIXING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11022791

TODAY 09/09/2017 MY FRIEND CALLED ME AS INFORMED ME THAT HE SAW YESTERDAY 09/08/2017: ON THE NEWS THERE WAS A LAW SUIT AGAINST 2011 FORD EXPLORER ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSION. THE REPORT STATED THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING HEADACHES, WERE NAUSEOUS, ETC.., WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SYMPTOMS I AM HAVING SINCE ROUGHLY A YEAR. ON FEBRUARY 2017, I WENT TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST AS MY HEADACHES AND NAUSEA WERE WORSE. I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL MEDICAL TESTS AND I AM TAKING A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE HEADACHES. NOW I HONESTLY AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE TRIGGER OF THE SYMPTOMS SINCE I NEVER BEEN SICK LIKE THAT BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 11022424

ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING A PRE-CERTIFIED VEHICLE, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE & GO INTO GEAR. 4 MONTHS LATER HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES & FELT LIKE THE CAR GOT REAR ENDED WHILE DRIVING ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ON THE HIGHWAY THAT SAME WEEK. I WAS DRAWN BING IN THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NJ AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC. ALSO AT THE END OF THE WEEK THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE & GO INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11020487

ON 8/24/2017, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, NJ, APPROACHING TOLL GATE NEAR EXIST 114, SUDDENLY THE INDICATOR LIGHTS SHOWED AWD OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THROUGH THE TOLL GATE BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I WAS ABLE TO PARK ON ROAD SHOULDER. I DISMISSED INDICATOR AWD OFF WARNING BY CLICK "OK" BUT IT KEPT COMING BACK AND I CANNOT DRIVE FORWARD ANYMORE. MEANWHILE, THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INDICATION LIGHT GOT OFF. I STOPPED ENGINE AND RESTARTED ENGINE, AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS LOSE POWER ISSUE THAT MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS REPORTED. THERE IS A PE13003 NHTSA RECALL BUT THIS DOESN'T COVER FORD EXPLORER, EVEN I BELIEVE MANY OTHER FORD CARS (LIKE FORD EDGE) SHARE SAME PARTS WITH EXPLORER. IF I LOST POWER WHEN I DRIVE IN HIGH SPEED, I MAY END UP WITH MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT!!!

NHTSA ODI 11019316

I HAVE 2011 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH I TAKE INTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. I HAVE HAD ME EXPLORER A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER AND I WOULD TAKE IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE, I WOULD TELL THEM I SMELL EXHAUST FUMES ON THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. ONLY ONCE DID THEY CHECK IT FOR ME. AT THAT TIME, THEY SAID THE GUY COULDN'T SMELL ANYTHING. WELL, TODAY 8-24-17, I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR ANOTHER ISSUE. MY EXPLORER ENGINE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHEN I WOULD DECELERATE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING...THEY ARE REPAIRING TODAY. BUT, I ALSO ASK THEM TO CHECK FOR EXHAUST SMELLS ONCE AGAIN. WELL TODAY, I GUESS SOMEONE SMELLED THE EXHAUST BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIX IT AT A COST OVER $200.00. SAID IT WAS AN UPDATE FOR THE EXHAUST MODULE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PAYING THAT, SINCE I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE WITH MY MODEL OF FORD EXPLORER AND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE REASON I KNOW THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN THEY INITIALLY SAID THEY DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING I GOOGLED TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DID. WHEN I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TODAY WHY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT, THEY SAID BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NOT A POLICE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE EXHAUST PROBLEM. SO, I GUESS IF MY VEHICLE WAS A POLICE VEHICLE, IT WOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD FOR FREE. POINT BLANK, I WOULD LIKE MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER REPAIRED BY FORD AT NO COST TO ME FOR THE EXHAUST PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11019382